Leah Barnes and Imran Maalik are set to return to Hollyoaks after finding love off-screen. Leah was last seen in the Channel 4 soap in 2024 after sharing a heartfelt goodbye with dad Ste Hay before starting a new life in America.
Imran, meanwhile, left the village in 2023 to pursue a job opportunity in London following his recovery from an eating disorder.
The Maaliks and the Hays have a troubled history, with Ste being groomed and radicalised into joining a far-right gang and targeting the Maaliks, but it doesn’t seem to have phased Leah and Imran, who will return to the show as a couple.
Ean Flanders//Lime Pictures
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Ijaz Rana will reprise his role as Imran, whereas Charlotte Riley will take over from Ela-May Demircan as Leah.
Talking about returning to Hollyoaks, Ijaz said: “Coming back to the village feels like home. It’s an honour to step into Imran again, and he hasn’t been quiet off-screen… I can’t wait for everyone to see what he’s been up to.”
Charlotte added, “It feels like a dream to be joining Hollyoaks. I’m looking forward to viewers seeing a new side to Leah Barnes.”
Charlotte is no stranger to the world of soaps, having played young Lou Michaelis in a special Coronation Street flashback episode last year.
She appeared in the episode alongside Brook Debio, who plays Anthony Hutchinson in Hollyoaks, and Lewis Walton, who will be joining the show as part of a new family.
Lime Pictures
Ijaz’s return will see him reunite with Harvey Virdi, who plays his onscreen mum, Misbah Maalik.
He first joined the soap in 2017 in his first notable TV credit, securing a nomination for best leading performer at the 2023 British Soap Awards.
Hollyoaks airs on Mondays-Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm. Full episodes are also released on YouTube a week after their Channel 4 release.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
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